Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-08
THE GREAT PREACHER.
HENRY WARD BEECHER SLOWLY
SINKING.
Nature of the Disease-Relatives Ar
riving Old Enmities Forgot
Anxious People.
lsrlaAI BY TELEGRAPH TO THE RECORD uSroS.I

NEW YORK, March 7th.-It was a weary
night that the members Of the Beecher
passed last night. One by one
they would silently move in and out of the
death chamber, taking their turns at the
weary vigil. DIR. Searle was at the post of
duty without intermission Until nearly six
o'clock, when heretired to his home Mrs.
Beecher had kept watch over the sick man
most of the night, fearing he might pass
away in her absence. She did, however,
take few hours rest on her couch in the
room adjoining that where the sufferer lay.
AT six o'clock, when Dr. Searle went home,
this bulletin was issued Mr. Beecher
has been gradually failing during the night.
His death is not, however, anticipated at
the present" ALI day Sunday and till
midnight the officer on duty at the door Of
the house was kept busy answering the
queries Of friends and strangers. For hours
people stood i'll the damp weather looking
at the house, and it was not until the lights
in the windows were lowered that the
crowd entirely dispersed. Even as late as
o'clock persons came up the steps and
tried to read the last bulletin. Most of the
flowers sent to the house came from the
members of the congregation. Major Pond
was in the house most of the day. He told
the circumstances connected with Beecher's
daily occupation just previous to the attack,
with considerable feeling. He sad that
Beecher. only on Tuesday last, told him
how strong he felt and how glad he was
that he would be able to complete his book
in time for the publishers, and what pleas
ure he found in writing the work.
NO CHANGE IN HIS CONDITION.
At l1:15 DR.. Searle returned to the house.
He did not expect any change in Beecher's
condition. His life is slowly ebbing away,
and, from the reports of those who have
seen Beecher, evidently the end is not far
Off
The condition of Beecher at this hour
IL NJ does not vary essentially from that
given to the press last evening. The only
changes perceptible are the increasing
rapidity of the pulse and respiration.
These stand respectively los and Sc to SO
per minute. Respiration is also more
shallow Temp fature reaches 101S. These
symptoms indicate a gradual failure of
vitality, which had been anticipated, and
the consequent slow approach of the end.
The course of the disease cannot be
changed by the occurrence of a fresh hem
orrhage, which may or may not happen,
and the time of which cannot be sur
missed. There are no reasons to believe
that fatal issue viii occur to-day.
THE PULSE MORE RAPID.
New YORK, March 7th-2 P. M.-Beeeh-
ers pulse is a little more rapid. There is
no perceptible change,
Rev. Lindsey Parker rector of st. Peters 8
Church. called few minutes after o'clock
in the afternoon He was permitted to see
Mr. Beecher. When he left the house he
said that Mr.. Beecher's condition was un-
changed, and that he thought he could not
live any longer than to-day. DR.. Searle is
in constant attendance.
CONTINUES TO SINK SLOWLY.
New York, March sth-A. M-Mr.
Beecher continued to sink slowly yester-
day. He showed no sign of consciousness.
His condition varied little from what it
had been throughout Sunday. About
midnight it was thought change was ap-
preaching. aud the members of the family
were quickly summoned to the sick-room
but later it was stated the probabilities are
that he would not last until this morning.
Much anxiety prevailed all day to hear
the latest intelligence from the bed-cham-
Der, where SO many interests are centered.
The strain on the members of the family
and on the wide circle of intimate friends
in Plymouth Church, which has now con-
tinued for four days, began TO tell upon
their strength, but the unconscious patient
was wholly unaware of the great concern
around.
oLD-TIME EHMITIEs FADED OUT.
Even old-time enmities faded out in view
of the nearness of the end of the long,
busy and prolific life, while those who had
revered and loved the gray-haired pastor
had their feelings of love and devo-
ton quickened by the extremity to
which he was reduced. The only
be stricken down in the midst of
his work which was about to be fulfilled.
Throughout the day people thronged about
the plain brown stone house, where Mr..
Beecher has lived with his son for the last
three years when in Brooklyn. They
paused 10 read the latest bulletin displayed
upon newell post at the foot of the stone
steps leading to the door. and then passed
on to carry thenews to friends.
RELATIVES ARRIVING.
New YoRK, March 7th-Many of Beech
er's relatives from a distance arrived yes
dl4OllE lhCtn ICillk LIS ETdiU-
daughters, Misses Scoville, his niece, Miss
Harriet Stowe. and Mrs. Isabella Beecher
Hooker and MIS-. Boreel, Mr.
Beecher's sisters, Rev. Messrs.
Thomas K Beecher and Charles Beecher
are on the way. Robert Beecher, the
youngest son, telegraphed from Seattle, w.
T., to know whether he should come to
BROOKLYN. Word was sent to him that he
would be too late to see his father.
Many friends called at the house dilring
the day and were received by Colonel II.
B. Beecher and w. C. Beecher. No one
except the members of the family was ad
mitted to the sick-room, where unre-
mittIng attention was given by trained
nurses to the patient. Mrs. Beecher'
thought he recognized her by pressing her
hand in the morning, but was not positive,
as he did not open his ewes, or move his
head or body. Mrs. Beecher bears up un-
der the burden of waiting TOR the end with
a degree of strength not expected Of
one so nearly an invalid herself.
THE CHRONIC CRANK AROUND.
One of the visitors at the house was a
long-haired man, who said he was mind
reader, and could cure Mr.. Beecher. He
said he understood the doctors had given
the patientup, and if he could see him he
could be able to tell if he would live Col.
Beecher and Dr. Earle talked with the
man and told him Beecheris case was in
the hands of the physicians and was be-
ing properly cared for, and the crank went
away.
FORM or THE DISEASE
Beecher has not been conscious since
afternoon. The form of
the disease he is suffering under
is sanguineous apoplexy, induced
by the gradual degeneration of the
blood vessels. Dr. Searle is unable to say
whether his bilious attack Of Friday was
by apoplexy, or whether apo
plexy caused the nausea and other symp-
toms Of biiiousness.